The Poisonous Ten Read Online Free PDF Page A

seventeen or eighteen, with big Bambi-eyes and chocolate-colored hair that was cut close to the head in a sort of faux-hawk style. He was of average height, with a thin posture, almost like a walking skeleton. He had a blue, white, and black plaid, bu tton-up shirt over a matching blue crew-neck with black pants that were so tight Parks wasn’t sure how the kid was able to breathe. A pair of blue low-top Converse finished off the wardrobe. 
    “Everyone. Moore. Fairmont. Pay attention,” Hardwick called out, looking last at Jackie to make sure she too paid attention. “Everyone, this is Milo Tippin. He’s going to be joining your team in light of its recent . . . thinning. He was sent over from the CSA department. He’s got a background in computer science, so anything you need computer-wise, I suggest you ask him. He’s spent the summer bringing our backlog of case files online to make them more”—Hardwick looked to Tippin for help but found the word she was loo king for before he could offer any—“available for cross-referencing. Anyway, he’s aware of crime scene procedures but has yet to process a scene, so help him along. Remember where you all were when you started.”
    Nobody said anything, everyone simply staring at Har dwick and Tippin.
    “I can buy that he’s completed all of the exams and wha tnot. But how old is he?” Parks asked then turned to Tippin himself. “How old are you?”
    “I’ll be twenty-three next May,” Tippin answered.
    “He looks sixteen,” Parks said to Hardwick. His biggest concern was that the kid would not be taken seriously when trying to interview a suspect or question a witness. He’d never had that problem before and wasn’t sure how to deal with it.  “Has he even put in his time as a patrol officer?”
    “I graduated fast and early,” Tippin replied. “Look, I’ve applied for patrol duty. Several times. I keep getting denied and shoved in the back of an office or in the basement su rrounded by files and paperwork. Why should I be punished for being smart and young? I want to do this. I’ll gladly go put in my four years on patrol duty if you can get someone to accept me there.”
    Parks stared at the kid, taking in what he had said and why he said it.
    “So then, how is it he’s ending up with us?” Parks looked to Hardwick.
    “I received an anonymous email with his personnel file,” Hardwick said. Parks immediately turned to the kid, kno wing full well he had most likely hacked her email account, yet nothing could be or had been proved. “Let’s just say I was slightly impressed. Just because he’s not street-wise doesn’t mean he’s not helpful. You’ve got experience between everyone else on your team. He needs a start, and against my better judgment—which has never been wrong—I decided to be the one to give it to him. He looks too young? Then blame his family’s genetics, not him. We’re lucky whenever we can get new people on the force to help us out, especially in the detectives and CSI units. The process to get in here is long and tedious, and we aren’t exactly batting them off.”
    “Yes, I know. I’m sorr—”
    “I personally go over the files of every applicant that gets into this department. I know every person here, and I’d like to think I damn well know what I’m doing when it comes to assigning people to where I choose. That includes Tippin here. He’ll work well with your team. I don’t give a flying squat if you like this or not. The kid’s legit. You need him. Whether you want him or not. Detective Levinson’s gone. Detective Cain, as you all know by now, as well. So no more coddling you all like babies. We have to move on. For the good of the team and the job. Make it work. Now I’ve got to go outside and organize that zoo of reporters. Someone sure doesn’t know how the hell to keep their damn trap shut.” Hardwick turned and marched out the door.
    Tippin was even more on edge, rocking from foot to foot,